Straw-spreader.



B. F. WILSON.

STRAW SPREADER.

APPLIOATION FILED APR. 16, 1912. 1,051,847. Patented Jan.28,1913.

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B. P. WILSON. V STRAW SPREADER.

APPLIOATION IILBD APR. 16, 1912.

Patented Jan. 28, 1913.

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B. F. WILSON.

STRAW SPREADER.

APPLIOATION FILED APR.16, 1912.

v1,05 1 ,847. Patented Jan. 28, 1913.

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WWIJO AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA c UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE.

BENJAMIN F. WILSON, OF HASTINGS, NEBRASKA.

STRAW-SPREADER.

To all whom it may 007106772.

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN F. W'ILsoN, a citiien of the United States,residing at Hastings, in the county of Adams and State of Nebraska, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Straw-Spreaders; and Ido declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description ofthe invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to spreaders for straw, chaff or other likematerial.

One object of the invention is to pr0- vide a straw spreader fordelivering straw or similar material from the central por tion of thebody of the spreader to enable the arrangement of the mechanism at thecentral portion thereof to dispose the Weight equally at the ends of thedevice, and which is so constructed that such delivery will be at apoint adjacent the surface to which the material is to be applied, toprevent the straw from being scattered by the wind before it reachessaid surface.

Another object is to provide simple and eflicient means for adjustingthe size of the distributing opening or mouth to regulate the quantityof material fed from the spreader.

Another object is to provide a spreader of this character constructed topresent a smooth unobstructed surface on its inner face to permit theready feeding of the material without any clogging.

With these and other objects in view, the

invention consists of certain novel features of construction, and thecombination and arrangement of parts as will be more fully described andclaimed.

In the accompanying drawings :Figure 1 represents a side elevation of astraw spreader constructed in accordance with this invention; Fig. 2 isa top plan view thereof; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section; Fig.4 is a transverse vertical section taken on the line 44 of Fig. 2; Fig.5 is a detail inverted perspective view of one end of the feedcontrolling device. Fig. 6 represents a detail perspective view of thetoothed casting with which the adjustable feed controlling member isadapted to be connected.

In the embodiment illustrated, the body 1 of the distributer or spreaderis shown rectangular and in the form of a deep wagon Specification ofLetters Patent.

Application filed April 16, 1912.

Patented Jan. 28, 1913. Serial No. 691,251.

box, being supported in any well known manner upon wheels 2. Thesewheels 2 are preferably made of small size to dispose the bottom of thebody near the ground, but large wheels may be used if desired and thebody disposed near the surface on which the straw is to be spread, byemploying drop axles or in any other suitable manner.

As shown, the body is composed of a skeleton frame, preferablyconstructed of wood and lined with sheet metal to present a smoothunobstructed surface to the straw or other material to be fed therefrom.This metal lining is preferably composed of side sheets 3 and 4; whichcover the entire inner faces of the sides of the frame, and end sheets 5and 6, which cover the inner faces of the ends of the frame and havetheir lower ends bent and extended inwardly toward the center of thebody or box 1, thus forming a bottom for the box at the ends thereof,said bottom being inclined downwardly and inwardly toward the center, asshown clearly in Fig. 3. The inwardly extending lower ends of thesemembers 5 and 6 each project over about one-fourth of the body 1 and aredesigned to support a portion of the weight of the load contained in thebody,

and thus relieve the feeding belts to be described.

Two endless conveyer bolts 7 and 8 are mounted in the bottom of theframe of the spreader body on suitable rollers 9, 10 and 11 and 12,respectively. These belts may be composed of any suitable material, suchas canvas, and are shown provided with transversely extendinglongitudinally spaced slats 13, from which project laterally pins orstuds 14 which are designed to engage the straw to be distributed, andfeed it toward the center of the body of the spreader, as will behereinafter described. a

The end rollers 9 and 12 are idlcrs, power being imparted to the bandsfrom the rollers 10 and 11, which we will term the driving rollers. Theshafts or axles of the rollers are rerolubly mounted in bars 1:1 and 16which are secured to the lower faces of the side members of the framebottom, and which are so arranged to position said rollers and thefeeding belts carried thereby in close proximity to the surface onwhiclrthe straw or other material is to be spread. The shafts of thedriving rollers 10 and 11 project at one end. beyond the bars 15 and 16at opposite sides of the spreader body and the free outer ends thereofare revo-lubly mounted in the end members of a frame 40 arrangedtransversely across the center of the body frame at the bottom thereof,being preferably secured to the bars 15 and 16 above referred to. Theseshafts are equipped respectively with a sprocket 17 and a gear pinion 18which are connected by sprocket chains 19 and 20 with sprocket gears 21and 22 fixed to the rear or driving wheels-of the spreader. The sprocketpinion 17 is loosely mounted on the shaft of the rear driving roller 11having a clutch member 23 on the outer end of the hub thereof which isadapted to be engaged by a complementary clutch member 24 keyed to slideon the roller shaft, and which is provided with the usual annular groove25 for engagement by the forked end 26 of a clutch operating lever 27fulcrumed intermediately at its ends on a fixed portion of the frame. Apitman rod 28 is connected to the lever 27 opposite the forked end 26thereof, and is connected at its other end to a suitable actuating lever29 disposed adjacent the drivers seat. This'actuating lever 29 may belocked in adjusted position by the usual means, such as a spring pressedpawl 30 carried by the lever and adapted to engage a notched bar orquadrant 31 at the front of the spreader body near the drivers seat, asis shown clearly in Fig. 3. A

coiled spring 32, such as is ordinarily used, is mounted on the rollershaft between the inner face of one end of the frame 40 and the outerface of the sliding clutch 24, and exerts its tension to force saidclutch member normally inward into engagement with the clutch membercarried by the sprocket pinion 17.

The shaft of the front driving roller 10 extends through the oppositeside bar 16 i and has its free outer end revolubly mounted in the otherend of the transverse frame 40. The pinion 18 is fixed to the shaft ofthe roller 10 and is driven from the other rear supporting wheel throughthe sprocket chain 20 which passes over the sprocket gear on said rearsupporting wheel and meshes with a sprocket pinion 33 fixed to arotatable stub shaft 34 mounted between the side bars 16 and the end barof the frame 40, said stub shaft 34 being disposed parallel with theshaft of the roller 10 and arranged adjacent thereto. A gear wheel orpinion 35 is keyed to slide on the stub shaft 34 and is adapted to meshwith the pinion 18, by means of which motion is imparted to the frontfeeding belt 7 in a direction opposite to that of the belt 8 so thatsaid belts feed toward the center of the body 1 to convey the straw tothe mouth or distributing opening 36 formed between the driving rollers10 and 11 which are spaced apart a suitable distance to permit anydesired quantity of straw to be passed between them.

The slidable gear 35 has a sleeve or hub provided with an annular groove37 which is adapted to be engaged by the forked end of an operatinglever 38 similar to the lever 27 above described, and which is alsofulcrumed intermediately of its ends on a fixed portion of the frame ofthe spreader and is connected at its other end by a pitman 3%) with anactuating lever 41 arranged at the front of the spreader adjacent thelever 29 in position for actuation by the driver. This lever 41 is alsoprovided with a spring actuated pawl or dog 42 which is designed toengage a toothed segment or bar 43 for locking the lever in adjustedposition, and thereby hold the gear wheel 35 out of mesh with the pinion18. The spring 34 exerts its tension to normally hold the gear 35 andpinion 18 in engagement. It will, of course, be understood, that when itis desired to throw the feeding aprons out of operation, it is onlynecessary to shift the clutch member 24 and the gear wheel 35 out ofengagement with the sprocket pinions 17 and. 18 by means of theactuating levers29 and 41.

An adjustable feed controlling member 44 is mounted transversely of thebody frame below the bottom thereof, and is adapted to be raised orlowered to vary the space between the inner ends of the feeding belts 7and 8 and thereby permit more or less straw or other material to passthrough said opening to the surface on which it is to be spread. Thisfeed controlling member 44 has inclined distributing faces 45 and 46extending in opposite directions converging toward their upper ends topresent a deflecting surface to the material fed through the opening 36and scatter it in opposite directions. As

.shown, this member is made in the form of a bar triangular in crosssection arranged transversely across the bottom of the spreader bodybelow the mouth 36 with the apex thereof extending upwardly into saidopening, as is shown clearly in Fig. 3. The opposite ends of this member44 have adjusting bars or plates 47 secured thereto and extending atright angles to the apex thereof. As shown, these plates are madeL-shape in form with a slot 48 extending longitudinally thereof. Theinner arm 49 of each plate 47 is secured to the flat lower face of themember 44 by screws or other fastening elements, and the free arm 50thereof projects upwardly and is provided on its inner face withserrations or teeth 51 which are adapted to mesh with similar teeth. 52formed on castings 53 secured to the outer faces of the bars 15 and 16.These castings 53 may be of any suitable or desired length, and thetoothed arms 50 of the member 44 are held in engagement therewith by setscrews 54 which pass through the slots in said arms and engage saidcastings. The member 44 is of a length equal to the space between theside bars 15 and 16, or a little less, to adapt it to move verticallybetween said bars to vary the size of the mouth of the spreader. Atongue or other suitable draft means may be applied to the front axle ofthe spreader body and drawn by draft animals, or it may be attached to atraction engine if desired. I

In the operation of this improved spreader, the body 1 is filled withstraw, preferably cut, leaves, chaff or any other light material whichis desired to be placed on wheat for mulching it or on the earth forfertilizing it, and the size of the mouth 36 is adjusted by disposingthe member 44 at the desired position to feed the desired quantity ofmaterial therethrough. The drawing of the spreader over the groundcauses the wheels 2 to rotate and throu h the sprocket chains 19 and 20to drive the feeding rollers 10 and 11 which cause the aprons or belts 7and 8 to travel toward the center of the spreader and thereby feed thestraw to the mouth 36, the pins 14 engaging the straw and forcing ittoward said mouth. When the size of the mouth is to be reduced themember 44 is moved upward, and when it is to be enlarged said member islowered. It will be obvious that the downward inclination of the metallining at the ends of the body will facilitate the passage of the strawtoward the mouth 36 and assist the belts in feeding it thereto.

I claim as my invention:

1. A straw spreader including a box-like body with the bottom thereofopen throughout the greater portion of its length, endless apronsmounted below said opening with their inner ends spaced apart, means forconnecting said aprons with the driving wheels of the spreader forimparting motion thereto and causing them to travel toward the center ofthe spreader body, and a vertically adjustable member arranged be tweenthe inner ends of said aprons for varying the size of the openingbetween them.

2. A straw spreader including a box-like body with the bottom thereofopen throughout the greater portion of its length, endless apronsmounted below said opening with their inner ends spaced apart, means forconnecting said aprons with the driving wheels of the spreader forimparting motion thereto and causing them to travel toward the center ofthe spreader body, and a vertically adjustable member operable betweenthe inner ends of said aprons and having distributing faces inclined inopposite directions, and means for locking said member in adjustedposition.

3. A straw spreader including a box-like body having an openingextending transversely of the bottom thereof, a member arranged to varythe size of said opening and having toothed arms at its opposite ends,

toothed bars carried by said body in position to be engaged by the armsof said adjustable member, and means for securing said toothed arms inadjusted position on said bars to hold said member in adjusted position.

-11. A straw spreader including a body having an opening in the bottomthereof, a member adjustable in said opening to Vary the size thereof,L-shaped arms secured to said member provided on one face with teeth,toothed bars arranged adjacent said opening in position for engagementwith the toothed arms of said member, said toothed arms havinglongitudinal slots therein, and set screws operable in said slots andadapted to engage said bars for locking said members in adjustedposition.

5. A straw spreader including a body composed of a skeleton frame havingsheet metal sides secured to the inner faces of the side members of saidframe, sheet metal plates secured to the inner faces of the end membersof said frame with their lower ends extending inwardly over a portion ofthe bottom of the frame, said end members being inclined downwardly andinwardly, endless conveyers supported in the bottom between said endplates, means under the control of the driver for throwing said apronsinto and 95 out of operation, the inner ends of said aprons being spacedapart to form a distributing mouth extending transversely across thebottom of the spreader, and means for varying the size of said mouth.

6. A straw spreader including a body composed of a skeleton frame havingsheet metal sides secured to the inner faces of the side members of saidframe, sheet metal plates secured to the inner faces of the end 105members of said frame with their lower ends extending inwardly over aportion of the. bottom of the frame, said end members being inclineddownwardly and inwardly, endless conveyers supported in the bottom be-110 tween said end plates, means under the control of the driver forthrowing said aprons into and out of operation, the inner ends of saidapron being spaced apart to form a distributing mouth extendingtransversely 115 across the bottom of the spreader, and means forvarying the size of said mouth, the bottom of said spreader beingdisposed adjacent to the supporting surface of the spreader.

7. A straw spreader including a Wheel supported body having an openmg inthe bottom thereof, side bars depending from the opposite side bars ofsaid body, longitudinally spaced rollers having the axles there- 125 ofrevolubly mounted in said depending side bars, endless aprons supportedon said rollers, sprocket gears fixed to the drive wheels of saidspreader, one end of the axle of each of the driving rollers projectingbeyond the 130 side bars at opposite sides of said body, means forsupporting the free ends of said axles, a sprocket pinion on one of saidprojecting axle ends and a gear pinion on the other axle end, a sprocketchain connecting the sprocket gear of one of said driving Wheels Withthe sprocket pinion on the rear driving roller, said sprocket pinionbeing loosely mounted on the axle of said roller, a clutch member keyedto said axle and adapt-- ed to engage said pinion for locking it to saidaxle, the pinion on the axle of the front driving roller being fixedthereto, a stub shaft mounted parallel With said projecting axle end andhaving a sprocket pinion fixed thereto, a chain connecting said sprocketpinion With the sprocket gear on the other driving Wheel of thespreader, and a pinion slidably mounted on said stub shaft and shiftableinto and out of engagement with the. fixedsprocket Wheel on the rollershaft, and means under the control of the driver for shifting saidclutch and slidable pinion.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of tWosubscribing Witnesses.

BENJAMIN F. WILSON. Witnesses L. O. HILTON, G. W. MUDD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C. v

